Region | Lebanon
Hezbollah leader says Lebanese government's crackdown 'declaration of war'
Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, warns that Lebanon is entering into "a new phase".
- Agencies
- Published: 11:42 May 8, 2008
- Hezbollah's supporters blocked all roads leading to the airport, and other main roads, bringing the city to a standstill.
- Image Credit: AP
Beirut: The Lebanese government's onslaught on Hezbollah is equivalent to a "declaration of war," the Shiite group's leader Hassan Nasrallah proclaimed on Thursday.
Speaking at a rare news conference, Nasrallah warned that the government's recent probes against his opposition party had launched Lebanon's long-running political crisis into “a new phase".
"Lebanon following this cabinet meeting is no longer the Lebanon prior to that date," he added, referring to Tuesday's meeting that alleged Hezbollah was violating Lebanon's sovereignty.
Meanwhile, clashes between pro- and anti-government camps in Lebanon spread further across the nation to the northern region of Tripoli, and the Bekaa towns of Saadnayel and Taalabaya.
Gunmen have been deployed to the streets and some are carrying automatic rifles on rooftops.
Hezbollah increased its stronghold on Beirut airport earlier on Thursday, the second day of the violent labour strike that has paralysed Lebanon.
Hezbollah's supporters blocked all roads leading to the airport, and other main roads, bringing the city to a standstill.
Further flight delays and cancellations loomed, as Middle East Airlines, Lebanon's national carrier, suspended all departures until noon, in hopes of “positive developments''.
Demonstrators burning tyres blocked all entrances to Rafik Hariri International Airport on Wednesday, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and forcing many to miss their flights.
Sectarian violence took over much of Wednesday's clashes as mixed Shiite and Sunni neighborhoods battled throughout. At least 10 people were wounded.
Denouncing the violence, Sunni Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rachid Kabbani said: "The Sunni Muslims in Lebanon are fed up."
The Sunni cleric called the strike "a flagrant aggression on the sovereignty of our nation and the dignity of the people of Beirut," and appealed to Hezbollah to withdraw forces from the streets of Beirut.
Clashes and fierce gunbattles also continued on Thursday in what may be the worst internal conflict to hit Lebanon since the 1975-90 civil war.
The rival sides exchanged gunfire in the village of Saadnayel in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.
Hundreds of Hezbollah supporters continued their campaign through the night and onto Thursday, building roadblocks, burning tyres and protesting on the streets.
Most Beirut residents were forced to stay inside, while all roads blocked by demonstrators on Wednesday remain closed.
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